Abstract
Assessment of internal derangement is a common indication for imaging of the injured
knee in athletes. The first line of imaging is conventional radiography, but magnetic
resonance imaging is often required. Radiographic features of ligament injury can
be subtle, even when the soft tissue injury is devastating, resulting in instability
that may require surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging to assess for ligament injury
has several potential pitfalls that can lead to interpretation errors. This article
describes common errors when imaging knee ligament injuries in the athlete and discusses
strategies to reduce inaccuracies in imaging technique and interpretation. Mistakes
on magnetic resonance imaging and radiographs typically arise from the timing of imaging
(early/acute versus delayed/chronic), technical factors, potential mimics of pathology,
and the inherent limitations of radiography.
Keywords
knee - ligaments - imaging - pitfalls - athletes
